Cozy Mysteries discussion

Okay, let's see what we know about mystery authors from our own states. I enjoy the following mystery authors from my own state of Colorado:

Margaret Coel
Diane Mott Davidson
Maggie Sefton
Kathy Brandt
Robert Spiller
Christine Goff
Mike Befeler
Patricia Stoltey

There's probably more, but that's what I can remember right now. And, of course, there's my own gift basket designer amateur sleuth series, starting with A REAL BASKET CASE!

Great idea, Beth. And I loved your book! I used to work in Colorado Springs and enjoyed recognizing some of the places the scenes took place in. Hope you have your next book done soon!

The only author I can add to your list is Darlene Franklin.

Thanks for the compliment, Barb! The sequel, TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET, will be released in May, 2009. It's set in Breckenridge, CO.

But, back to the topic, I really do like regional mysteries that let me learn something about the area. I really enjoy CJ Box's mysteries set in Wyoming, for instance. So, I'm hoping the other group members will tell us about their local favorites, too.

Lynn - re: Wyoming - have you read Craig Johnson yet? His are closer to police procedural rather than cozy but aren't terribly violent and the characters are outstanding. First in the series is "The Cold Dish", which hooked me, I've read all four in the series.

In Tennessee, I found several but I have only heard of a few. Yea! More Books to read!
Sharyn McCrumb,Cleo Coyle aka Alice Kimberly;Cherie Priest;Chester Campbell; Mary Saums;Larry Buttram;Lori Lacefield;Elizabetrh Squire;Graham Landrum. These are just some I found. Has anyone read any of these? I have read some Sharyn McCrumb and have the Campbell books and Kimberly books on my TBR lists.
I know the Alice Kimberly books are cozies.

We have so many Florida authors that it's hard to keep track. Best to visit http://www.murderonthebeach.com for their list.
Check out my blog today on Buying Books for gifts: http://mysterygal.bravejournal.com

I'm adding a few from British Columbia, Canada. These are written either by B.C. authors or take place in B.C., usually both:
Mystery Authors, BC

James Hawkins
Nora Kelly
Elisabeth Bowers
Vicki Delany
William Deverell
Laurence Gough
Sandra Ruttan
Michael Slade
L.R. Wright

Wow, British Columbia is a hotbed of mystery writing! As for Wyoming, one of my favorite male mystery writers, C.J. Box, lives there. I adore his Joe Pickett, game warden, series.

I'm in California...
www.ElizabethEaganCox.net

I know Anne George wrote books set in Birmingham, AL. I loved that series. Too bad she's gone now. The Southern Sisters Mysteries. :)

cheesygiraffe wrote: "I know Anne George wrote books set in Birmingham, AL. I loved that series. Too bad she's gone now. The Southern Sisters Mysteries. :)"
Hi cheesygiraffe! Anne George was one of my favourites, too. I just loved the contrasts of characters in her Southern Sister series! And apparently I read all of them as library books because the only one I've actually got is Murder on a Bad Hair Day!

Pumpkin wrote: "In Tennessee, I found several but I have only heard of a few. Yea! More Books to read!
Sharyn McCrumb,Cleo Coyle aka Alice Kimberly;Cherie Priest;Chester Campbell; Mary Saums;Larry Buttram;Lori La..."

I've read a number of Sharyn McCrumb in the past but it's been a while....I really liked them.

Sharyn McCrumb is my favorite mystery author. I like all her series, from the zany Bimbos/Zombies to the lyrical Appalachian series. I haven't yet read any of the Nascar series, though.

I love Sharyn McCrumb! I've read all the series, also from the zany Bimbos/Zombies right through the first Nascar. My husband used to go to the Nascar races a lot. I think my favourite series was the Appalachian series. They were wonderful.

Hey all!
Anyone here know of any authors from Wa. state?

It took me some time to find a website that listed Connecticut authors - Hillary Waugh and Donald Westlake recently passed away, so there were many websites with their obits.

but, I finally found this site and listed many authors, although not sure if the authors reside in CT, or the books are set in CT.

http://www.connecticutmuse.com/Docume...

I just started a new series "living the Vida Lola" by Misa Ramirez. She's from Dallas. So for, the book is great.

Just joined the loop. I'm Emilie Richards, the author of the Ministry is Murder series starring Aggie Sloan-Wilcox, a free-spirited minister's wife in a small Ohio town. But I live in Virginia, also the home of Donna Andrews and I suspect many more fine mystery authors. Bet someone else can name them all.

Shelly wrote: "Emilie wrote: "Just joined the loop. I'm Emilie Richards, the author of the Ministry is Murder series starring Aggie Sloan-Wilcox, a free-spirited minister's wife in a small Ohio town. But I live..."
There are four in the series. A Lie for a Lie just came out in February. And nice to meet you, too.

A new writer in British Columbia: Hannah Holborn, author of Fierce. My review of Fierce can be found on my profile.

Shelly wrote: "Kim wrote: "It took me some time to find a website that listed Connecticut authors - "
"I'm not sure whether she lives in Conn. or just sets her books there, but does anyone else remember Valerie Wolzien's books?
I've read one of Wolzien's, "This Old Murder" but apparently I traded it back to the 2nd hand bookstore after I read it some time ago so don't really recall it. I think I liked it though.

Beth wrote: "Sharyn McCrumb is my favorite mystery author. I like all her series, from the zany Bimbos/Zombies to the lyrical Appalachian series. I haven't yet read any of the Nascar series, though."

I loved Sharyn McCrumb's Appalachian Ballad series. My roots are in Tennessee & Kentucky, tho I've lived in Colorado for the past 31 years. She is also a lovely lady & I love to hear her speak at signings. I always thought it was funny that she didn't like being called a mystery writer.

Beth wrote: "Okay, let's see what we know about mystery authors from our own states. I enjoy the following mystery authors from my own state of Colorado:

Margaret Coel
Diane Mott Davidson
Maggie Sefton
Ka..."

I'm also in Colorado and have come up with a few more names. Some are no longer being published, which is a shame since they had some good series going.

Dan Simmons - Joe Kurtz series (he also write horror & fantasy)
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez series
Robert Greer - C.J. Floyd series
Dolores Johnson - Mandy Dyer series
Michael Stone - Streeter series (this series was really good)
Michael Allegretto - Jake Lomax series

The only series among these that was/is cozy is Dolores Johnson's. You could maybe stretch it a little and call Robert Greer's cozy. These are all really nice people themselves and it's a shame that so many of them don't have publishers anymore. I love Diane Mott Davidson, but think her Goldy Bear Schulz series has deteriorated a LOT with the last 3 books. After reading FATALLY FLAKY have decided I will not buy her books anymore.

Im from Kansas,..I dont know of any cozy authors from Kansas yet..the only one that I can think of is Rebecca Brandywine, and I believe she writes Historical/romance books.

I'm from Ohio. The only current series that comes to my mind that's set here is Paul Gaus' Ohio Amish mystery series, but I don't know if he's from Ohio himself or not.

I remember reading the Charlotte Sams mysteries, set in Columbus and written in the early 90s. Again, I don't know if author Alison Glen is an Ohioan or not. And I haven't seen anything more recent from her.

A wonderful mystery author from Kansas that I can recommend is Nancy Pickard. Her book, The Virgin of Small Plains, won the 2006 Best Novel Agatha Award (named for Agatha Christie and given out to "traditional" (cozy) mysteries). Anything Nancy writes should make for great reading.

Authors from Ontario, Canada include:

Mary Jane Maffini
Barbara Fradkin
Lou Allin (now in BC, her latest series is set there)
Rick Mofina (not cozy but a great writer)
Joan Boswell
Sue Pike
H. Mel Malton
Karen Irving
R J Harlick
Brenda Chapman
Nadine Doolittle

Carol wrote: "I'm from Ohio. The only current series that comes to my mind that's set here is Paul Gaus' Ohio Amish mystery series, but I don't know if he's from Ohio himself or not.

I remember reading the ..."

I'm originally from Ohio. Jonathan Valin used to write the Harry Stoner series about a Cincinnati P.I. I loved that series because it was fun picking out places that I was familiar with. I'm from Dayton and have lots of relatives in Cincy, so am familiar with the area. And in one book Harry even did some sleuthing in Dayton.

Carol wrote: "I'm from Ohio. The only current series that comes to my mind that's set here is Paul Gaus' Ohio Amish mystery series, but I don't know if he's from Ohio himself or not.

I remember reading the ..."

And I almost forgot Les Roberts who writes the Milan Jacovich series set in Cleveland. These aren't cozies, but they're Ohio books.

Rita Mae Brown and John Grisham both live about 15 min. from me, in the Charlottesville/Afton, VA area. The town of Crozet, VA featured in Brown's Mrs. Murphy series is also a nearby.

We have several mystery authors here in Maryland, the best known being Martha Grimes and Barbara Michaels. Then there's Laura Lippman, Barbara Lee, Chassie West, Tim Cockey, Marcia Talley, and, oh, yes, me - Mary Ellen Hughes (who's sure she's forgotten someone).

Mystery authors from Minnesota. There's quite a bunch. Here's a handful:

William Kent Krueger
Ellen Hart
Carl Brookins
John Sandford
Vince Flynn
Mary Monica Pulver
Laura Childs
Erin Hart
David Housewright
Jess Lourey
K J Erickson
Julie Kramer
Lois Greiman
C.Hyytinen
me...and others.

I can think of a few Washington State authors.
Jo Dereske, Mary Daheim, Earl Emerson, JA Jance, KK Beck.

Betty wrote: "I'm adding a few from British Columbia, Canada. These are written either by B.C. authors or take place in B.C., usually both:
Mystery Authors, BC

James Hawkins
Nora Kelly
Elisabeth Bowers
Vicki De..."


To add to Betty's list of BC mystery authors:
Linda Bailey (but I am cheating a bit, she is a mystery writer for kids) but I love her books and they are set in varous parts of BC.
Eric Wilson (another mystery writer this time a bit older kids and his books are set often in BC but also in other parts of Canada).

Re Mystery writers from Washington State how about Aaron Elkins?

I haven't seen any comments from Wisconsinites yet, so I will add the few that I know of:

I haven't seen any from Wisconsinites yet so I will add the few that I know of:
Victoria Houston -- "Dead... series
Deb Baker of Hartland
Sandra Balzo -also coffee shop mysteries
I'm sure there are more so help me out.

Do any of you use this website:

http://stopyourekillingme.com

Amonsgst other things it lists series in order, characters by jobs, authors/series by location.

Maybe I don't qualify anymore, since I moved to Maryland years ago, but I was born and raised in Wisconsin (Milwaukee), and go "home" often for book signings and to see my old friends and family.

Mary Ellen Hughes

Carol wrote: "I haven't seen any Wisconsinites yet so I will add the few that I know of:
Victoria Houston -- "Dead... series
Deb Baker of Hartland
Sandra Balzo -also coffee shop mysteries
I'm sure ther..."

Anne Frasier now lives in Wisconsin. She used to be a Minnesotan.

I'm from California - we have way to many mystery writers to list. Even in my small community of Santa Cruz we have: Laurie King, Laura Crum, Lia Matera...
and me, too.

Everyone from Ohio--there is a new author from Ohio that has a book coming out Tuesday January 9, 2010. The book title is The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley. According to the author this isn't a tradional mystery but more of a family drama with a thriller background about what happens in a family when something really, truly frightening is happening around them. Here's the blurb about the book: "The electricity is out, the food is almost gone, the neighbors are dead or missing, and a winter storm is approaching. Trapped in a Columbus suburb with two young daughters, Ann and Peter Brooks aren't sure what to do or where to head when civil order collapses because of an avian-flu pandemic." Doesn't that sound good??? I immediately put it on reserve at the library--I am number 30 on the list but I figure since this book is featured in today's Sunday Dispatch that tomorrow there will be several hundred reservation requests.

I'm in Wisconsin, and am only familiar with a couple local mystery writers:

Ann Voss Peterson (rom/suspense)
Marshall Cook (Monona Quinn "cozy" series)
John Galigan (I think he's cozies; I have not yet read him, though I have one in my TBR pile)

August Derluth was also from Wisconsin, and considered a major voice in mysteries during his day. I recently discovered 2 or 3 books of his that used to belong to my parents, but since he wrote across many genres have no idea which these particular books fit into.

Heather L wrote: "I'm in Wisconsin, and am only familiar with a couple local mystery writers.

Heather, Maddy Hunter (author of the Passport to Peril series) is a Wisconsinite, as is Deb Baker (the dollmaking mysteries). I was born and raised in Milwaukee, but now live in Maryland, so I'm not sure if I count, but I've authored the Craft Corner mysteries. I'm sure there's more Wisconsin mystery authors, but can't think of them right now.

I am from MN, so I guess I have to say Joanne Fluke -- but I now live in IL and know J.A. Konrath (Jack Daniels series)is from IL.

I was just going to mention J.A. Konrath I really enjoy those books.

Thanks for the recommendations, Mary Ellen. Will add your books to my list of those to search out!

Here is a link for a state by state location list for mysteries that I use often

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/Loc...

This site is loaded with lots of stepping stones for books.

Vicki wrote: "Here is a link for a state by state location list for mysteries that I use often

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/Loc...

This site is loaded with lots of stepping stones for..."

Thank you for the reminder to check the Stopyourekillingme.com website. We all get our favorites and then forget to check others. I looked at the link that you listed and wow, there are way more Ohio writers then I thought. Great...more books to add to my TBR list! :-)

My three favorite sites that I check on for books are www.cozy-mystery.com, www.fantasticfiction.co.uk and www.amazon.com

I use Amazon alot just to see what a book is about and then the referral part is wonderful where you can scroll through books like the one you are looking up.

For cozies I always check Cozy-mystery first and Danna (the website owner) has many categories you can go to but her geographic section is very limited, you're Stopyourekillingme is much better.

FantasticFiction is just an all around good site for all kinds of books.

I used to use www.booksnbytes.com solely but hardly ever look at it anymore. It doesn't seem to be as up to date as others.

I have not seen The Body Movers by Stephanie Bond mentioned yet.

Vicki wrote: "I have not seen The Body Movers by Stephanie Bond mentioned yet."

Vicki: What state is that series from?